Thursday, January 16, 2025

Big Bend National Park, TX

 First day trip from Terlingua 

We drove up to Chisos Canyon and hike up the Laguna Meadows Trail to a saddle.  It was a 7 mile round trip taking 4 hours.  And 1200 feet of elevation gain to 6600’.  We had some pretty nice views along the way!  Met a few other hikers but really not as many as we would normally see on any VT trail.  There’s just so much space out here that people are spread out.. The weather was great!  Sunny, almost cloudless skies, and temp in the 60s.  Just a little breeze in the saddle.

We are quite tired tonight.  I expect to be slightly sore in the morning.  Whip us back into shape in no time!


Skye getting a walk before we go hike without her.
Nat’l Park, no dogs. 



Chiso Basin Campground 














Wednesday, January 15, 2025

Terlingua, TX

 It’s only about 160 miles from Ft Stockton to Terlingua so we took a leisurely morning at camp, walked around with Skye a couple times before heading south.  It still took 3 hours to drive down here.  The route comes through the park, and the park has a 45 speed limit, and it’s over 40 miles from the north gate to the west gate.  But I always like driving through to get an eye full of what we’re here for. 

We saw some antelope next to the road coming down.  A small group of 4-5, just grazing inside a highway fence.  We have also seen deer near the road.  

At the check-in desk she commented that it was a bit early, I agreed and that was all we said about it.  ðŸ˜†. 

We got set up with all the details we have been ignoring,  levelers, jacks, chocks, water, sewer and power.  Dump the tanks, it has been 10 days now since we left home.  A lot of things have shifted in the garage section.  Some day I’ll have to rearrange that.

This is now a dark sky campground, so all outside lights are out by 9, the buildings have red lights on the porches.  I was just out walking Skye and the sky is beautiful!  From Venus in the east to Mars in the west and the others in between.  The moon has not risen yet so the stars are at full brightness.
















Tuesday, January 14, 2025

Fort Stockton TX

 Just another sunny day drive.  The terrain changed a lot during this day!  From the green trees to green scrub growth across the Hill Country’s open sparse rolling hills to the flat plains of west Texas.  We have arrived in the West, as my mind has always pictured it.  

Tomorrow is only 150 miles to Terlingua and Big Bend Nat. Park. We’ll be there until Tuesday.  

Last night I looked at the moon to see the occultation of Mars, but Mars wasn’t there, must have been behind the moon already   Tonight I see Mars made it back out   











Apparently someone brought a goat camping with them






Monday, January 13, 2025

Brady, TX

 Back to sunny day driving again.  Had a hard time finding a place but here we are in Richard’s Park, a city park campground with 3 other campers.  Didn’t see anyone except a few workers.  Nice big park, $27 with hookups.  Looks like $50 tomorrow night since there is little to choose from.  Going to Ft. Stockton because there just isn’t much else out here.

The drive was mostly US 84 and most of that was 2 lane with a 75 speed limit.  I did my usual 62.  Luckily there are lots of passing lanes.

We saw some bison in a field, they were domestic, and some deer in another field, they were wild.  I’m sure of that because the fence was in no way sufficient to keep deer inside.

Fairfield TX


Some Texas countryside 





At the park